The Boilermakers have thrived with contrasting and complementary big men. The latest combination is a departure from the usual formula.

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Matt Haarms of Purdue reacts as the Boilermakers go up 75-64 over Ball State with 6:58 remaining Saturday, November 10, 2018, at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeated Ball State 84-75.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE – Matt Haarms came to Purdue in part because of coach Matt Painter's reputation for developing big men.

Big men, as in plural. Haarms stepped in behind Isaac Haas to join the Boilermakers' recent tradition of complimentary — and often contrasting — combinations in the middle.

"It was me running around and Isaac just being a sledgehammer in the post," Haarms said.

A.J. Hammons and Haas. Haas and Caleb Swanigan. Haas and Haarms. Purdue won more games than any other Big Ten Conference program over the past four years as one veteran big man passed the torch to the next tower in line.

The pieces changed out over time, but the Boilermakers kept putting 40 minutes of elite center play on the floor every night.

Painter's latest center combination bears little resemblance to those previous pairings. Haarms returns with a relentless energy and variety of skill previously unseen from the other 7-footers. Evan Boudreaux, at 6-8 but only 220 pounds, projects to play more undersized minutes at the 5 than any of the Boilermaker bigs before him.

"If one guy did that," Painter said, "he'd be the player of the game."

Haarms' freshman-year recognition came mostly from his screaming, fist-pumping celebrations for every block, dunk or takeaway during the game. He also burst onto the scene as one of the Big Ten's best shot blockers.

While he didn't block any against Ball State, he still impacted every facet of the game.

Three different times, Haarms planted himself in the paint like a sprawling windmill and took a charge. He ranged out to the top of the key and hit his first 3-pointer of the season. He may be most deadly in the Boilermakers' evolving pick-and-roll game, setting ball screens for Carsen Edwards or Ryan Cline and then slicing hard to the basket for almost-impossible-to-contest dunks and layups.

Haarms scored a career-high 16 points against Ball State on only eight field goal attempts and only 18 minutes. He combines some of Haas' back-to-the-basket ability with some of the pick-and-pop of Hammons and Swanigan to create something altogether different.

"Matt isn't the quintessential low-post player, but he can score in the low post," Painter said. "When he got in there and got his balance, he was really successful. A couple of times he catches the ball and was really narrow and didn't finish those plays. When has balance, he's pretty efficient in the paint."

Ball State coach James Whitford complimented Boudreaux, calling him a "good player." But the Cardinals see a lot of players who resemble Boudreaux. A 6-8 player with skill, even one who can post 14 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes, is not an outlier.

Haarms is, running the floor at 7-3, blocking shots and confounding defenders with inside-out versatility. Whitford called rebounding against Haarms "demoralizing," as his extreme height and length allows him to reach or deflect balls no one else can.

"He's so big, and he changes the game a lot more than what you're going to see on the stat sheet," Whitford said. "If you had talked to the guys, out there, what it feels like to have him on the court, it's a big difference. He's the guy for us that was the real problem."

And yet, when Haarms picked up his third foul 13 seconds into the second half Saturday, the Cardinals experienced anything but relief.

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Evan Boudreaux of Purdue gets free for a dunk against Ball State Saturday, November 10, 2018, at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeated Ball State 84-75.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

By drawing a defender with him out to the perimeter, Boudreaux created the space necessary to hit Nojel Eastern under the basket for an easy layup. He added a dunk and a couple of mid-range jumpers during the 19-2 run that ultimately decided the game.

While Haarms aspires to an identity as a 3-point threat, Boudreaux already boasts one. He made 37.4 percent of his 174 attempts over two seasons at Dartmouth. He made 2-of-5 against the Cardinals, creating space in which the rest of the Purdue offense can operate.

"A lot of teams rally have a tough time adjusting to that," Haarms said. "You can see that. When he's coming in their big is like, 'Whoa, how do I guard this guy?' The contrast really helps out."

Boudreaux still sees himself as a more of a "4." He admits, however, that Purdue expects a more perimeter-oriented version of that spot than what he experienced at Dartmouth. He can play there when needed, but the matchup favors him even more at the 5.

"Being able to shoot and being a little bit quicker than most 5s, especially with the way our offense is structured, it presents a lot of problems for them," Boudreaux said. "I think I have the ability on defense to push those guys around too. It gives us a really good dimension."

The most common answers at the 4, Grady Eifert and Aaron Wheeler, are also coming along in their ability to knock down open 3-pointers. Whitford pointed to that variety as the single biggest challenge to guarding Purdue.

The Purdue post pairing is quicker and rangier on offense than ever before. If Haarms and Boudreaux can repeat their performance against Ball State, the combo should be just as effective.

Nathan Baird reports on Purdue men's basketball for the Journal & Courier. Contact him at nbaird@jconline.com or 765-420-5234. Follow him on Twitter: @nbairdjc